Printing Paintings onto Canvas

Canvas prints have become extraordinarily popular over recent years. These wrapped prints use ink-jet technology to create high-resolution reproductions of all sorts of images, and many options are available to you whether there’s a specific image you wish to add to canvas or if you’d rather opt for an elegant off-the-shelf piece. Canvas prints have sold in their millions over the past decade or so and have become a valuable alternative to framed photographs printed on paper and posters, partially due to the way their 3D nature makes them stand out from the wall. The fact that there aren’t usually outer frames included means that many people say they feel ‘closer’ to the images in question.

Impressive authenticity

One of the purposes of canvas printing is to obtain pieces that resemble original art works, which is why so many people opt to have famous pieces of art committed to canvas. Most of us cannot afford to buy an original Michelangelo or Van Gogh, so cheap canvas printing offers us the next best thing and is renowned for the authentic results that it delivers. There are many options to choose from when you are considering buying canvas prints. Custom, bespoke and personalized prints have become remarkably popular as they allow you to be creative and even give you the chance to submit personal photographs to canvas. Many parents choose to add their children’s artwork to canvas, with many amateur painters and photographers showcasing their works in this manner. There are many customization options available, and you can choose from a host of different sizes.

Popular themes for canvas printings

Mass-produced stock canvas prints featuring images of landscapes, quotes and other visual content have become popular over the years and tend to be incredibly affordable. It’s also possible to buy limited edition canvas prints of works by well-known artists. As such a low volume of these are typically produced, these items can carry a great deal of value and can become worth a great deal of money with the passing of time. If you do buy a limited edition canvas artwork, make sure it comes with a certificate of authenticity or other proof that it is a genuine piece.

Machines used for canvas printing

Most canvas prints are created with ink-jet printers also called ‘giclées’. These machines deliver printing of an extremely high resolution, ensuring the results are incredibly detailed. If you do wish to have your own photographs printed, make sure the digital file that you are using is of a high resolution in order to get the sharp and detailed results that you require. You can determine the quality of an ink-jet printer by finding out what its image output resolution is. The more DPI or dots-per-inch, the better. Quality normally ranges between 360 DPI and 2880 DPI. Popular effects used in canvas printing include adding coloring features such as sepia, pop art and black-and-white.

Canvas printing materials

The main two types of material used in canvas printing are cotton and polyester. Whilst cotton canvases have natural fibers of cotton, polyester pieces feature synthetic fibre strands which feel similar to cotton. Polyester prints are normally cheaper, though the ink doesn’t penetrate the fabric as effectively so cracking and stretching can occur. It is also possible to purchase canvas prints with composites of cotton and polyester. If you are on a budget, you can still get great results by opting for polyester or a cotton-polyester composite. Make sure you know what kind of canvas material your images will be printed on before you go ahead and make a purchase.

Thickness and weight

Weight is another important factor when it comes to determining the quality of a canvas. The heavier and thicker the material is, the better. The thicker the canvas is, the better it will be at absorbing ink. You may also wish to have a coat of varnish added to your canvas. There are many good reasons for this. The varnish will make your piece more resistant to mold and damp and offer increased UV protection. Cracking and chipping will be less likely to occur and you will be able to wipe the surface clean without damaging the surface. Vanish can also enrich the color of your piece.